Potential producing cell



May 3, 1938. J. 5. WILLIAMS 2,115,091

POTENTIAL PRODUCING CELL Filed Aug. '7, 1956 INVENTOR Z1 Jose 1]; J". Willa ms ATTORN EY Patented May 3, 1938' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,116,091 POTENTIAL PRODUCING CELL Application August 7, 1936, Serial No. 94,793

9Claims.

This invention relates to electric potential devices and particularly to the construction of potential producing cells.

An object of the invention is to improve the construction of potential cells.

Another object is to provide improved cells and cell assemblies for supplying electric potentials.

One specific object of the invention is to improve the construction of potential cells of the general type described and shown in Patent Number 1,920,151 to Samuel Ruben.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing taken in connection with the appended claims. 1 i

The cell to be described has the advantage of using the fewest number of parts, it occupies only a small amount of space, allows a large electrolyte capacity for a given amount of electrode material, provides a sealed construction of simple form and may be manufactured at a low tooling cost.

The invention comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and methods of manufacture and oper ation referred to above or which will be brought out and exemplified in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, including the illustrations in the drawing. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a potential producing cell arranged according to one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a top view thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a cell of modified construction; and

Figure 5 shows an assembly of several cells arranged in series in a holder.

4 While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it is contemplated that considerable variation may be made in the method of procedure and the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention:

45 In the following description and in the claims,

parts will be identified by specific means for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

50 The invention contemplates an improved, sturdy and fool-proof construction, readily adapted to machine methods of production and convenient to use. In its preferred embodiment the cell comprises a cuplike container which may 55 also serve as one electrode member and a closure for the container comprising a disc member sealed in the mouth of the container and retaining the electrolyte therein. The disc member may form the second electrode and may be insulated from the container walls by the sealing 5 means.

Referring to the drawing the cell 10 comprises a pressed metal cup 9 having a base i2 rounded. at the corner and an enlarged rounded integral rim portion II. The cup 9 may preferably be 10 formed of a metal suitable for one electrode of the potential cell. For example, with the cell combinations set forth in the above-mentioned Patent 1,920,151 the cup may be formed of one of the cathode metals listed in that patent, such 15 as cadmium orzinc, or may comprise a base of another metal plated or coated with one of said metals. The cup 9 will then form the cathode of the cell.

The anode may comprise a fiat circular disc or pellet l3 held within the rim H of the cup by a ring washer ll of insulating material enclosing the edge of disc l3. Disc l3 may, for example, be composed entirely of one of the anode materials mentioned in the patent above referred to, such as vanadium pentoxide, or at 25 least the inner electrolyte-contacting surface thereof may be composed of the anode material and the outer surface may be formed of metal. The anode may be in the form of a pressed pellet of finely divided material having a wire or other metal terminal molded or pressed in to the top to facilitate connection of the cell in its circuit. Sealing washer l4 preferably may be of soft rubber, such as a rubber ring cut from a piece of rubber tubing of suitable diameter. 35

In constructing the cell the cup 9 may be stamped out of sheet material by a suitable die but temporarily without the rim ii being turned in at the top. 40

Electrolyte I5 is then placed in the cup. This electrolyte may be of any desired composition such, for exam le. as one of the compositions mentioned in the above patent. The viscosity of the electrolyte will, of course, depend upon the composition. The present construction is adaptable to various electrolyte consistencies, from very thin to solid or semi-solid. It is also possible, if desired, to include in the cell an absorbent filler, such as cotton, for example, to hold the electrolyte. The cup 9 may be filled with suflicient electrolyte so that when the cell is sealed no air space will be left or, if desired, the quantity may be limited to provide a void within the cell to act as a buffer against pressure changes.

After the electrolyte is introduced the anode and surrounding sealing washer are put into position and the rim II is spun over the edge to seal and complete the cell.

Figure 4 shows a modified cell construction ill wherein the cup III! is provided with a reduced base portion 2. Likewise anode H3, in this figure, the mounting bracket I" comprises a base ll of sheet insulation, having a metal cup I! and terminal lug 20 riveted together through the base by eyelet 2|. A spring contact arm I! and terminal lug 22 are also riveted together through base I! by eyelet 23. In the particular assembly shown, three cells [0 are mounted in series in the bracket by inserting one of the cells within cup i8 so that its rim ll rests on the rim of the cup. The second cell ill rests on top of the flrst one with its end I 2 resting on the face of anode disc i3. The third cell is similarly placed on the second. The anode of each is thus brought into contact with the cathode of the next succeeding cell but the cathodes are kept insulated from each other by the washers ll.

The rounded tip of arm l9 rests on the anode face of the top cell to complete the electrical connection to terminal 22. It is obvious that the bracket It can be made to accommodate a single cell or a whole series-of cells by varying the length of arm IS. The bracket I can be mounted in any position. In some instances it may be desired to have the cells on edge or inverted to insure electrolyte contact with both electrodes under all conditions.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has been described herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereby but it is intended to cover the invention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A potential cell comprising a hollow shell electrode, a disc electrode positioned in the mouth of said shell, a rubber washer enclosing the edge of said disc and sealing the space between said electrodes, a liquid electrolyte within said shell and in contact with both electrodes, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

2. A potential cell comprising a cup electrode, a disc electrode positioned in the mouth of said cup, an insulating washer enclosing the edge of said disc and covering the edges of both faces thereof, a liquid electrolyte within said cup and in contact with both electrodes, the edge of said cup being spun over the insulating washer enclosing the edge of said disc to hold said disc and washer in position and seal said electrolyte within said cup, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

3. 'A potential cell comprising a pressed-metal cup electrode, a disc electrode positioned in the mouth of said cup, a rubber washer enclosing the edge of said disc and covering the edges of both faces thereof, a fluid electrolyte within said cup and in contact with both electrodes, the edge of said cup being spun over the rubber washer enclosingv the edge of said disc to hold said disc and washer in position and seal said electrolyte within said cup, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

4. A potential cell comprising a cup electrode having a boss portion and a rim of larger diameter than said boss-like. part, a second electrode disposed within said rim and having a face substantially in the plane of said rim, an insulating washer positioned between said rim and said second electrode and forming a raised rim around said face, a fluid electrolyte within said cup electrodeand in contact with both said electrodes, said washer and second electrode forming a recessed socket adapted to receive the boss portion of a like cell whereby series contact may be made between two said cells, and an inwardly pro.- jecting boss comprising part of said second electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

5.-A potential producing cell comprising a metal cup electrode, the side wall of said cup beingformed with a channel extending around the inside of said cup adjacent the rim thereof, a disc electrode disposed in the mouth of said cup with its edge received in said channel, an insulating washer lining the surface of said channel and enclosing the edge of said disc and in contact with the top and bottom faces of said disc around the edge thereof to hold said electrodes in spaced relation and seal the inside of said cup, a fluid electrolyte enclosed in said cup in contact with both said electrodes, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

6. A potential producing cell comprising an annular metal cup electrode the side wall of said cup being formed with an annular channel extending around the inside of said cup adjacent the rim 7 thereof, a circular disc electrode disposed in the mouth of said cup with its edge received in said channel, an insulating washer lining the surface of said channel and enclosing the edge of said disc and in contact with the top and bottom faces of said disc arolmd the edge thereof to hold the electrodes in spaced relation and seal the inside of said cup, a fluid electrolyte enclosed in said cup in contact with both said electrodes, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

'7. A potential producing cell comprising an annular metal cup electrode and side wall of said cup being formed with an annular channel extending around the inside of said cup adjacent the rim thereof, a circular disc electrode disposed in the mouth of said cup with its edge received in said channel, an insulating washer lining the surface of said channel and enclosing the edge of said disc and in contact with the top and bottom faces of said disc around the edge thereof to hold the electrodes in spaced relation and seal the inside of said cup, a liquid electrolyte enclosed in said cup in contact with both said electrodes, said channel and said washer structure holding said disc against inward or outward motion with respect to said cup, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

8. A potential producing cell comprising an annular metal cup cathode the side wall of said cup being formed with an annular channel e1;- tending around the inside of said cup adjacent the rim thereof, a circular disc anodedisposed in the mouth of said cup with its edge received in said channel, an insulating washer lining the surface of said'channel and enclosing the edge of said disc and in contact with the top and bottom faces oi said disc around the edge thereof to hold the electrodes in spaced relation and seal the inside 01 said cup, 0. fluid electrolyte enclosed in said cup in contact with both said electrodes, and an inwardly projecting boss compris- "ing part oi said anode to insure contact with said electrolyte. v

9. A potential producing cell comprising an annular metal cup electrode the side walioi said cup being formed with an enlarged annular portion providing an annular rim on the outside of in the mouth of said cup with its edge received 1 in said channel, an insulating washer lining the surface of said channel and enclosing the edge of said disc and in contact with the top and bottom faces of said disc around the edge thereof to hold the electrodes in spaced relation and seal the inside of said cup, 11 fluid electrolyte enclosed in said cup in contact with both said electrodes, and an inwardly projecting boss comprising part of said disc electrode to insure contact with said electrolyte.

JOSEPH S. WILLIAMS. 

